Dayton audio umm-6 vs minidsp umik-1

Pardon the questions, I'm still very new to this. Does the degree calibration just refer to the orientation of the mic when used to test? And if so is 90 degrees pointing straight up, which I would think might be better to test in my car?

If I'm understanding it right I could also just create my own calibration files right? Still sounds more convenient for me to have it come preloaded.

Thank you for your help.

5.0 out of 5 stars Accuracy of Dayton Audio iMM-6 vs MiniDSP UMIK-1
By Andrew on May 11, 2016

I bought this a couple of years ago for a car audio project and was curious to see how this little guy matched up to the well regarded MiniDSP UMIK-1 USB microphone. I tested both mics nearfield on a horn loaded MarkAudio CHR-70.3. I imported the provided calibration curves into REW and adjusted the mics so that they both recorded at the same SPL. I took a few sweeps for consistency and was very surprised by the results. On the graph, red=iMM-6 and blue=UMIK-1. Both mics performed at about +-1 db difference of each other up to about 17kHZ. Pretty impressive!

There are a few small drawbacks for the iMM-6, namely it is not calibrated for SPL measuring (unlike the UMIK-1), cheaper construction, and its smaller diaphragm means it will clip/distort at high volume levels compared to higher end microphones. However, for $20, you get a pretty capable tool and it has proved a good reference for setting up my systems.

The only thing that really disappointed me was not with the microphone but rather the mobile software. I bought supposedly one of the best mobile apps for measurement (AudioTools by Studio Six) but didn’t find it very useful since there was no way to export data from the phone to Excel to further analyze it. I didn’t find much use for that app beyond white noise testing. REW or AudioNet CARMA for PC are much more powerful tools and if you can, I would recommend using this mic with a device that can run these programs. FYI though, it connects using a standard smartphone TRRS Jack and won’t connect to older computer mic inputs unless you have a TRRS to TRS splitter (bought mine at Radioshack). Also, I recommend a TRRS extension cable to isolate the mic and take more consistent measurements.

Lastly, there are several reviewers on here that have bought this for recording and were disappointed, and I can confidently confirm that this is not good for that purpose. Its a measurement tool and should only be used as such. Look into buying a Tascam recorder or similar microphone if you need voice or instrument recording capabilities.

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1. Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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   EDIT: Made a new thread looking for the EMM-6 instead. Can't change this title.

   Checking to see if anyone has a calibrated electret measurement mic they don't need. I was going to get the EMM-6 since I have phantom power, but it doesn't have accurate SPL measurement and I don't have an SPL meter.

   Last edited: Oct 15, 2019

2. atomicbob dScope Yoda

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   Dayton EMM-6 are serialized and calibration files are available. You look up the calibration file for a specific serial number here:
   //www.daytonaudio.com/index.php/emm-6-electret-measurement-microphone.html

3. Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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   I will never know the actual SPL I'm measuring at without a separate SPL meter, though. Is that okay?

4. Of course it is important to compensate the non linearity of te micc (SPL differences versus frequency). Depending what purpose you use the mic for it might not be neccessary to make sure that you measure 85 dB as 85 dB. For instance if you are interested in measuring the frequnency response of your speakers in your room, it is important to make sure that you compensate the non linearity of the mic but you are more interested in the difference in SPL depending on frequency than the absolute value of the SPL. If you want to create filters based on measurements to do DRC, the former is essential (and atomicbob pointed out that the data is available) the latter is just nice to have (but the mic will be more expensive).

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5. atomicbob dScope Yoda

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   Oh, you want a level calibration. Best way is to acquire a mic calibrator to use with the mic:
   //www.amazon.com/Decibel-Calibrator-Calibration-Measurement-Microphones/dp/B0786YDF62/

   Or get the UMIK-1, though it also benefits from a mic calibrator for fine adjustment.

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6. dBel84 Friend

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   //www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/343748-dayton-emm-6-measurement-microphone.html

   $35

   Sorry, should actually read before I post.

   I use the audiotool app with the Dayton phone mic to set spl fwiw

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   Last edited: Oct 12, 2019

7. atomicbob dScope Yoda

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8. @atomicbob This is great news. If I wasn’t living on the other side of the pond I might have asked to get that loaner.
   One question regarding mic calibration. I use REW for my measurements, computer to a Steinberg UR 22. I have to set input and output level on the Steinberg as well as the volume on my preamp. I do not think I often use the exact same setting. How useful is a one time mic calibration in that case? Wouldn’t I have to calibrate the mic every time I change the settings of in- and output level of the Steinberg and/or the volume on my preamp?

   Edit: I use a Behringer ECM8000 for my measurements (with compensation for its non linear FR) with satisfactory results. If you do DRC you should not correct too much in the treble region anyway (where the non linearity becomes significant).

   Last edited: Oct 15, 2019

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